purdy



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. L. PURDY.

POTATO BIGGER. 7 No. 327,017. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

Nv PETERS. PholoLilhugnphur, wumn wn. ac

' view of the elevator.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

POTATO- DIGGER.

E ECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,017, dated September 29, 1885.

Application filed September 16, 1984. (No model.)

To all whom it may colwern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PURDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers, of which the following is a specification, referonce being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to that class of potato-diggers in which a scoop or shovel is used for loosening the soil and potatoes, and more particularly tothat class in which a series of parallel bars are used with said scoop for the purpose of cleaning the potatoes while being elevated.

The object of the invention isa machine for digging and elevating the potatoes; and it consists in the device and mechanism, more fully described and claimed hereinafter, whereby the potatoes are dug from the ground, elevated, and screened while being elevated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan view with the elevator-casing broken away, of my machine. Fig. 3 is a detached cross-sectional Fig. 4 is a detail view of the elevator-chain. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the elevator, and Fig. 6 shows the fork-shaft.

The axle A has the wheels A A on'its opposite ends, and they may be keyed 1.1 clutched thereon, as desired.

The gear-wheel B is sleeved on the axle and has a clutch portion, B, which is suitably arranged to be engaged by the sliding clutch O, which is keyed on and movable along the axle, and may be moved into or out of engagement with part B O. The elevator frame or side plates, D, journaled near their upperends on the axle The lower end or base-plate, D", of the casing extends forward in approximately a horizontal plane, and is provided, by preference, with a steel point or nose, D. A plate, E, is carried rearwardly from plate D". The object of the plate is to receive and guide the forks after theyhave been tripped, as will be hereinafter explained.

The sides D are formed with slight offsets E, extending laterally outward from their opposite sides, in which are secured and operate by means of lever or handle casing D has its the endless Cleats E lower outer edges of plates D, and have their faces 6 beveled inward, so that the dirt and potatoes will fall onto the slats and be properly subjected to the screening action of the slats and forks. The slats F may be of any suitable number, and aresecured at theirlower forward ends on the base-plate D and extend upward for a short distance almost vertically. They are carried thence rearwardly parallel with cleats E to the rear of the axle A and above same, where they are curved slightly downward for the purpose of more conveniently delivering the screened potatoes by the chains carrying the fork-shafts.

are secured and extended on the,

forks of the endless carrier, and are then united with the cleats E in the form giving them their support. The pulleys G are supported by shafts G. Shafts G are short shafts journaled in lower end of elevator-casing, and supported from frame above lower wing of chain, as shown in Fig. 2. The shaft H is provided with sprocket-wheels H H in line with pulleys G, and adapted to drive the chains of the endless carrier.

I extend one end of the shaft casing and secure on it a pinion, H*, which is geared with and receives motion from the wheel B. This pinion drives the shaft H and sprockets H, which in turn drive the endless carrier through its chains, as shown. Either chains or belts may be used; but I prefer the chains, because thereby I get in connection with sprocket drive-wheels a more positively stronger operation than can be had ina slowinoving machine by belt and smooth pulley. The endless carrier consists of the chains, the forks, and their shafts. The chains Iare pro vided at intervals with link-blocks 1, formed with bearings I for the fork-shafts, and have projected into said bearings from their upper side pins or studs 11.

The fork-shafts J have their ends journaled in bearings I, or outer sides of said journaled ends with mortises or notches J, into which project the studs 1'. These mortises J are made sufficiently wide to allow the the shaft in the tilting thereof, presently described, while the studs 7; prevent its free revolution, as will be understood from Figs.

3, 4, and 6. The forks K extend radially of an apron,

H beyond the and are provided in the upper partial turning of ICC from shafts .I, and project up between and abovethe slats, so that they will catch the dirt and potatoes and convey them up in the operation of the'machine. The shaft is provided on one end with an inwardly-projected arm orj extension, .j, having on its extremity a roller, j. This roller or end engages a trip, L, which is secured to one side of the casing above the lower wing of the carrier, and extends to and beyond the end of plate E, and preferably almost to the shaft G.

It will be noticed that in the operation of the machine, when the arm j strikes trip L, the fork is thrown into the position shown in'Fig. 5, and is carried over plate E point forward, and then projected into the dirt and under the potatoes on the base-plate. The forks are permitted to take this position by the partial rotation of the shaft by reason of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

By carrying the forks en'd foremost into the dirt theyare more readily inserted and take a better hold on the mingled potatoes and dirt.

When the carrier rounds the pulleys G the forks assume their usual almost perpendicularv position and carry the dirt and potatoes up over the slats, screening the dirt therethrough, and deliver the cleaned potatoes over the rear ehd of the machine, where a bag or basket may be arranged to receive them; or they maybe delivered onto the ground and gathered by pickers following the machine. The elevator-frame, being journaled on the axle, may be turned and adjusted thereon as desired. The lower .end of the elevator is supported on rollers M, which are preferably journaled in the lower ends of rack-bars M,

which are lapped alongside of and movable aongyertical bars N, to which they are held by ke'epers or loops. The bars N are curved forward at their upper end, and have teeth Nforme'd on them and bars N depending in suitable position to support the segment O, which is toothed and meshed with rack M To. these segments 0 are secured levers O, which extend into convenient reach of the driyer, and has a detent, 0', arranged to engage teeth N, so that the segment-rack M and wheels M may be heldin any position to which they. may be adjusted. Thus it will be seen ,I am able to adjust the depth of the point of the base or shovel of the elevator-frame to run deep or shallow, as desired. While I prefer Ito so support the wheels M that they may be adjusted, it is obvious they could be supported in a fixed axle, asshown inrFig. 2. When in transit from point to point, turning, and other times, it is sometimes desirable to elevate the point of the frame clear of the ground. To do this I provide alever, P, pivoted to the draft-frame and connected at one end with the front of the frame D. By means of a suitable pawl, P, engaging a rack, P, the lever may be held in any proper position. The drivers seat may be supported on the elevator-frame, as shown, or directly on the draft-frame.

By my machine the potatoes are dug from the ground, elevated, and separated from the dirt. The mechanism is simple in construction and operation, and easy of operation in the manner described.

It will be noticed that the slats form a perforated or screening plate for thepotatoes and dirt. It is obvious that a plateperforated by a series of small "openings could be employed instead "of the slats, in which case the endless carri'er would operate above the screen. I prefer, however, thesla'ts, as showmand before described.

I claim- 1. In a potato-digger, an elevator having a base-plate or shovel and slats fixed thereupon and extending, vertically upward for a short distance, and carried thence upward and back atan incline, the endless carrier, the forks, and device whereby said forks are tilted and carried point forward along and over the baseplate, substantially as set forth. p

2. The combination, with the plates 1) and E, of the endless carrier having forksK and extensions j, and the trip-L, said trip lying in front of plate E, and serving to receive the extension j and turn the forks K so as to. cause them to enter plate E, as shown and described. I j

3. In an endless carrier for potato-diggers, the combination of the belt having link-blocks provided with bearing-s I, and with studs 1' projected thereun'to, and the fork-shaft "supported in said bearings and having its ends mortise'd at J in properposi'tion to receive the studs 2', substantially as and for the purpose specified. L

4. In a potato-digger, the combination of the slats, the base-plate D the plate E, extended to the rear and upwardly from the plate D the trip-bar L, and the endless carrier having its fork -shaft provided with an arm, j, arranged and adapted to engage the trip L, whereby the forks .aretilted and carried point forward-above the plate E, substantiall y as set forth. g I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses, U u N ALBERT L. PURDY.

Witnesses:

JOHN C, DACHLER, FRANK E. OsBoRN. 

